Police: Death of woman found near Newport tower is suspicious

NEWPORT BEACH – Police on Wednesday afternoon said the death of a woman found facedown in the sand is being investigated as a suspicious death.

The identity of the woman is being withheld while her next of kin is notified, police said. Autopsy and toxicology results are pending.

About 6 a.m. Monday, two people walking on the beach discovered the woman's body in the sand near Tower 71 in the area of Highland Street and West Oceanfront, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Kathy Lowe said.

Authorities described the woman whose body was found as Asian, in her mid-20s, about 5-foot-2 and with a thin build.

Detectives have been following leads, authorities said, but few details of the death were released.

Police have not commented on whether the body showed signs of trauma, whether there were signs of a struggle or whether the body had washed ashore.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have additional information to contact Detective Garrett Fitzgerald at 949-644-3797 or the department's hotline at 800-550-NBPD.